Pet-loving expats on the Spanish island of Mallorca are being warned about the spread of a fatal mosquito-borne disease.

All pet-owning residents in a number of Mallorcan areas encompassing Sa Pobla, Pollenca, Can Picafort, Alcudia and even Palma have been advised that tiger mosquitoes have already spread the heartworm disease across most of the island. Veterinary clinics in the island are urging pet owners to have their pets inoculated or prescribed preventive medicines as soon as is possible, especially if they’re living in wetland areas.

According to veterinarians at Moixica Veterinary Clinic, preventative treatment should be applied even if pets are showing no symptoms, as the disease is secretive and unprotected animals can easily be carriers of this heartworm infection. Signs to watch out for include coughing, renal failure and a swollen abdomen, but at this point the disease is well established and complex, long-term treatment is the only way to save a beloved pet’s life.

According to one leading specialist in tiger mosquitoes, the species carries one of the most invasive potentials on the planet, with humidity and heat exacerbating the spread of the parasitic infection. It seems the Balearics islands provide the perfect breeding ground for tiger mosquitoes, with humans also susceptible to infection, although this is rare. Citizens and expats are being advised not to allow standing water to accumulate in pots or planters and ensure drinking bowls are washed out on a regular basis, thus preventing the deadly insects from breeding.